A private jet thought to be carrying nine people has reportedly crashed into a mangrove forest in Thailand.
On Thursday, Aug. 22, the Cessna 208B Grand Caravan aircraft took off from Bangkok and was carrying a European family to Trat province in the country’s southeastern corner, Asia Pacific Press stated.
The plane went down behind Wat Khao Din in the Bang Pakong district of Chachoengsao at around 3:18 p.m. local time, per the Bangkok Post.
According to local outlets including the Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS) seven passengers and two crew members were on board. Photos from the scene appeared to show the wreckage of the plane and clothing was found at the site.
The Royal Thai Police didn’t immediately respond when contacted.
Per the Thai PBS the aircraft was heading to Ko Mai Si Airport and departed at 2:46 p.m. local time, before losing signal around 2:57 p.m.
Police Lieutenant Warayut Chanwichumet, Deputy Chief of Investigation from the Bangpakong district station, said of the crash, “We have blocked off the area to prevent further accidents due to an oil leak from the plane,” reported The Mirror.
“We have inspected the wreckage and have not yet found any pilot or passengers. We will expand the search radius and dig the ground beneath the wreckage to locate the pilot and passengers,” the officer added, per the outlet.
Locals spoke about hearing an explosion before the crash.
Ang Trasawat, 69, said, “There were explosions in the air. Before the plane fell, the sound was loud, then the plane fell to the ground. After that, I ran to see the scene. Pieces of the plane had been scattered around, including near a house,” per The Mirror.
“I heard the plane accelerating very loudly. There was no smoke coming out. Then the plane descended towards the fields and landed in the mangrove forest. It was a small white plane with two wings. After the crash, there was a loud explosion,” Preecha Boontham, 56, added, according to the publication.
